An Englishman of forty years residence in Wales pontificates about politics (slightly off-message), films and trivia. Secretary of Aberavon and Neath Liberal Democrats. Candidate for Neath in the Westminster elections of 1997 & 2017 and the Welsh general election of 2016.

Tuesday, 15 March 2016

No hypocrisy, please, Mr Osborne

It has been extensively trailed that in tomorrow's budget there will be more cuts to support for the worst-off in UK society, while support for high-profile construction projects will be confirmed. Is it too much to hope that George Osborne will refrain from using the term "tough decisions"? It is only tough in the sense of being a bully to take one's troubles out on people who are least able to fight back.
The really tough decision would be to tell ones well-heeled friends, who are extending the gap between themselves and the poorest, that it is time for them to step up their contributions to the national exchequer. Another tough decision would be to tell state pensioners, who vote proportionately more than younger citizens, that 2.5% is no longer a sustainable guarantee of an annual increase.